Cross street vision warning signal



1932- LICHTENSTEIN 1,871,894

CROSS STREET VISION WARNING SIGNAL Filed Aug 22, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 i 9; flic I D 5d 5 a 49 6 59 47 INVENTOR fim-zjmzmszaa A ATTORNITIY Aug. 16, 1932. l, c '5 N- 1,871,894

CROSS STREET VISION WARNING SIGNAL Filed Aug. 22, 1930 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 5-. 1 an 0 2g 57 Q 5. Q O O i+ 5 1 1mm ATTORNEY Aug. 16; 1 932. LICHTENS TEIN" v 1,871,894

CROSS STREET VISIONVWARNING SIGNAL Filed Aug. 22, 1930" s sheets-sheet s w q' 21 Z lNVENTOR I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES IRWIN LICHTENSTEIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA CROSS STREET VISION WARNING SIGNAL Application filed August 22, 1930. Serial No. 477,108.

My present invention has for an object to provide means for protecting automobile drivers approaching an intersection by warning them in ample time before they reach the corner of an intersection that there is an automobile or vehicle of some kind coming. along the cross street and also showing the driver what direction such vehicle is coming from.

Further, it is an object to provide a signal means of the foregoing character which will remain in operation until such time as the approaching vehicle referred to passes the intersection.

Further, it is an object to provide means for signallin traflic at street intersections without slowlng up the traflic unnecessarily as now so frequentl occurs when the usual Stop and Go types 0 signals are employed.

Further, it is an object to provide trafiic warning signals which, by reason of their quiet action (by avoidingunecessary gear noises such as occur in starting and stopping automobiles) are especially adapted to street corners at hospital zones.

Further it is an object to provide a t-raflic warning signal system, which is so designed as to operation that it will permit a motorist to continue across a highway or arterial stop if there is no traflic ap roaching the crossing on the highway, there y making it unnecessary to stop before crossing a clear right-ofwa consequently cross traffic is speeded up.

ther objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fullydescribed in the following detailed description, then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a wiring diagram illustrating,

my system.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a signal such as may be used as a part of the system.

Figure 3 is a similar elevation, the face plates being removed.

Figure 4 is a plan of the distributor unit, the cover being removed.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 4, the box being shown in section.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken through the center of the distributer unit.

Figure 7 is a detail elevation of a switch arm and its brushes.

Figure 8 is a vertical section on the line 88 Of Figure 7. 0 Figure 9 is a detail elevation of one of the bumper-stops.

. Figure 10 is a detail elevation ofone of the solenoids and its connection with a switch arm. I 5

Figure 11 is a detail horizontal section on the line 11-11 of Figure 5.

In the drawings, in which like letters and v numerals of reference indicatelike parts in all of the figures, A represents the control and current distributing unit. B indicates the circuit closer units. C indicates the warning signal units, D the street corners and E the crossing streets.

By referring now more particularly to Fig- 7 ures 4 to 11 inclusive in which the distributer unit is illustrated, it will be observed that 1 represents the base casing of the control and distributer unit, this casing having a seat 2 for the reception of the top plate 3, the latter being secured in position in any suitable manner.

Located within the base casing 1 is a gear housing 4, in a bearing 5 of which is mounted a drive shaft 6 that is driven from a motor 7 by. ear and worm connections 8 and 9, the shag 6 extending through the housing 4 as shown. The shaft 6 also carries a worm 10 which meshes with a driven worm gear 12 on the turntable shaft 11 that is mounted in suitable bearings 13 in the housing4. The turntable shaft 11 has a socket 14 and a 'flange 15, the latter resting on the top 3 of the base casing while the socketed portion turns in an opening therein and is connected to the shaft 11 by a set screw 16.

17 is the turntable that carries a circular seriesof leaf springs 18, the purpose of which will presently be made clear.

A pair of crossed bridges 19 are mounted on the top 3 of the base casing and where they cross they are apertured to receive the shan 21 (preferably square) of a switch arm holder 20, the latter being secured by suitable screws 22 and washer 23 in cooperation with the shank 21 as best indicated in Figure 6. The bridges 19 have feet 24 through which they are secured by cap screws or other suitable means to the top 3.

Switch arms 25 are pivoted at 26 to the switch arm holder 20 preferably ninety degrees apart. These switch arms 25 carry brush mounting plates 27 which are preferably of insulating material and are securely riveted or otherwise made fast to the switch arms, there being two sets of plates 27 to each arm, one set being separated from the other.

Unless the plates 27 are made of insulating material, suitable insulation is provided to prevent electrical continuity between one pair of plates 27 and the other pair on the same arm.

28 represents brush carrier rods mounted in the plates 27 and on these rods brush carriages 29 are vertically slidably mounted, the carriages 29 having spring arms secured thereto, the latter having forked ends 31 to straddle one of the rods 28 and these spring arms carry brush rollers 32 which are designed to engage the respective contact segments 33 and 34.

The contact segments 33 and 34 are arranged in groups or pairs concentrically with the pivots of the respective switch arms with which they cooperate, the inner ones of the pairs (33) being the signal lamp contact segments and the others (34) being the motor circuit closing contact segments.

Suitable switch arm stop knees 35 are provided to limit the sweep of the switch arms. These stop knees 35 are faced with bumper cushions 36, preferably wooden blocks with rubber facings.

A solenoid magnet 37 is associated with each switch arm. The magnets 37 are mounted under and to the. bridges 19 and have their cores 38 connected by connecting rods 39 to their respective switch arms. The cores 38 are, of course, of magnetic material and may be provided with non-ma netic extensions 40 in order to give proper diearing within the solenoid tube and prevent the core binding in its movements in and out. p

41 designates a main line plug connector mounted on the top 3 while42, 43, 44, and 45 .a continuous chamber 48, the middle one being divided into two separate chambers 49 and 50, and the lower one being divided into three separate chambers 51, 52 and 53. The front plate or wall of the signal box 47 has the word Warning stencilled in it, the word Warning aligning with the chamber 48. It also has a pair of arrows stencilled in it numbered 55 and 56 in the drawings which indicate opposite directions. The center one of the lower chambers 52 lines up with a red window 59 in the front wall while the side chambers 51 and 53 line up with transparent letters L and R numbered 57 and 58 in the drawings respectively indicating left and right directions. v It should, of course, be understood that the openings in the casing 54 to 59 inclusive are covered with suitable transparency such as glass to keep out the weather.

B designates suitable circuit closers operated by the passing vehicles.

is an electric heater suitably mounted within the box B, the purpose of which will later be more fully explained.

Referring now more especially to the wiring diagram of Figure 1 it will be observed that 91 designates the main line wires from a suitable source of power, which wires run to the main line plug 41. The positive side of the main line plug 41 is connected by suitable wiring 92 with one end of each of the windings of the magnets 37, also to each of the contact brushes 32, also to each of the motor circuit contact segments 34, while the negative side of the main line plug 41 is connected by wiring 93 with the negative side of the motor 7, also to the negative side of each of the plug connectors 42, 43, 44 and 45.

The positive side of the plug connector 41 is also electrically connected. to one terminal of the switch 95, the other terminal of which is connected to the positive one of the heater circuit wires 94, the negative one of which is connected to the negative side of the mam line plug connector 41, so that by closing the switch 95 all of the heaters 4 may be simultaneously energized.

Each of the vehicle actuated circuit closconnectors 42 to 45 inclusive are electrically I connected by wires 98 with their respective brush rollers 32.

From the wiring diagram it will be noticed that each signal lead plug connectors 42 to inclusive is wired up with a signal lamp in each of two diagonally opposite signal boxes on the corners of the crossing by means of circuit wires 99.

Operation So far as described the manner in which my invention operates is as follows Referring to the wiring diagram ofFigure 1, assume that a vehicle is moving from right to left (East to West). As soon as the vehicle engages the tread of the circuit closer, which is located at the right in Figure 1, and depresses that tread the circuit there will be closed which causes the following actionto take place, namely energization of the left hand magnet 37 in Figure 1. thereby closing the circuits between the elements 32a33 and 32-34 of the left hand unit. The closing of the circuit at these elements cause current to flow through the motor 7 to start it the south that a vehicle is already approaching from the east. Starting the motor 7 into operation causes the turntable 17 to rotate whereby its leaf springs 18 will engage the switch arm (which has been moved over to the circuit closing position by energization of the magnet 37) and move it toward the circuit opening position where it is eventually brought to a stop against one of the knees 35 and the circuit broken, thereby stopping the motor. Should a second vehicle engage the same circuit closer before the first vehicle has crossed the intersection, as when several vehicles are following in train, a second energization of the circuit will take place which will cause the magnet 37 again to draw over its switch arm fully to the circuit closed position and repeat the action during an equivalent time interval to that caused by the first vehicle.

In other words, when a tread is pressed by a passing vehicle it closes the circuit of its corresponding solenoid which pulls its switch arm over to the circuit closed position to effect the starting of the motor 7 and the setting of the proper signal lights. The motor does not operate unless the, tread of one of the circuit closers is depressed by a vehicle passing over it. When, however, the vehicle passes over the tread the motor circuit is closed as well as the circuit to the proper at right angles to the direction travelled by the operating vehicle. Should two vehicles approach the crossing at right angles at the same time, or substantially so, then the warning signals will be set on all four corners and the vehicles must proceed in. accordance with the usual rule of right-of-way.

When a signal is brought into, play as before stated and the motor is started and the corresponding signal lights turned on, the motor revolves the turntable .of the distributer, the springs of which are so placed that they almost interlock with each other and cause the switch arm gradually to be carried back to its original-position where the circuit is again opened and the motor and signal lights turned olf.

The period during which the motor and signal is permitted to operate may be varied by changing the gear ratio between the worm 10 and the gear 12. Preferably the signal is so timed that after a vehicle runs over the tread it continues to operate until the vehicle that brought it into play reaches the intersection where it is in full view of the cross street, after which the signal is turned off. If a line of automobiles are following each other closely so that they in turn run over the tread before the proper time interval elapses to allow the signal to go oil from the preceding automobiles operation, then the switch arm is again pulled back to its maximum position without any interruption in the signal and the machines that follow will cause it to act in the same manner and in each instance the timing is the same as the time required for the original machine to travel from the tread to the intersection.

The provision of the electric heaters enables the circuit closers to be kept warm in winter time and prevents the formation of ice which would tend to jam or interfere with the operation of the mechanism.

It is to be observed that in the signal box a pluarlity of signal lights are turned on for each operation. For example one of the bulbs in the chamber 48, one of the bulbs in either of the chambers 49 or 50, one of the bulbs in chamber 52 and one of the bulbs in either of chambers 51 and 53 are simultaneously lighted so if all but one of these bulbs should burn out there would still be given a warning signal.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

it is thought the complete construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

hat I claim is:

1. In traflic signalling systems having signal energizing circuits; a control and distributing unit, said unit comprising a motor, a motor energizing circuit, motor and signal circuit controlling switches in said motor energizing circuit respectively, electro-magnetic means for moving said switches to close the circuits, said electro-magnets being in said motor energizing circuits, and means actuated by said motor for moving said switches to open said signal and motor circuit aftcr closure by said electro-magnetic means and including a turntable, gear connections between said motor and said turntable, said switches including pivoted contact carrying arms, and means on said turntable engaging said arms to move them to their circuit opening posi tions.

2'. In traffic signalling systems having signal energizing circuits; a control and distributing unit, said unit comprising a motor, amotor energizing circuit, motor and signal circuit controlling switches in said motor energizing circuit respectively, electro-magnetic means for moving said switches to close the circuits, said electro-magnets being in said motor energizing circuits, and means actuated by said motor for moving said switches to open said signal and motor circuits after closure by said electro-magnetic means and including a turntable, gear connections between said motor and said turntable, said switches including pivoted contact carrying arms, and means on said turntable frictionally engaging said arms to move them to their circuit opening positions.

3. In traiiic signalling systems having signal energizing circuits; a control and distributing unit, said unit comprising a motor, a motor energizing circuit, motor and signal circuit controlling switches in said motor energizing circuit respectively, electro-magnetic means for moving said switches to close the circuits, said electro-magncts being in said motor energizing circuits, and means actuated by said motor for moving said switches to open said signal and motor circuits after closure by said electro-magnetic means and including a turntable, gear connections between said motor and said turntable, said switches including pivoted contact carrying arms, and means on said turntable frictionally engaging said arms to move them to their circuit opening positions, said last named means comprising leaf springs.

4. In traffic warning signal systems, a control and distributor unit comprising a base box enclosing a motor and a driven shaft with gear connections between said motor and shaft; :1 motor circuit; a turntable mounted on the box and driven by said shaft; a switch arm mounted over the turntable, and an electro-magnet with a core linked to said switch arm for moving said arm in one direction; stops limitin the movement of said arm in each of two ment in said motor circuit carried by said arm, an elongated fixed circuit closer element in said motor circuit to be engaged by said armcarried element for closing the motor circuit when said magnet is energized, and means on directions, a circuit closing ele-.

said turntable carried by said turntable to engage said armand move it to the circuit opening positionsubstantially as shown and described.

5. In traffic warning signal systems, a control and distributer unit comprising a base box enclosing a motor and a driven shaft with gear connections between said motor and shaft; a motor circuit; a turntable mounted on the box and driven by said shaft; a switch arm mounted over the turntable, and an electro-magnet with a core linked to said switch arm for moving said arm in one direction; stops limiting the movement of said arm in each of two directions, a circuit closing element in said motor circuit carried by said arm, an elongated fixed circuit closer element in said motor circuit to be engaged by said armcarried element for closing the motor circuit when said magnet is energized, a means on said turntable frictionally to engage said arm to move it to its circuit openin position.

IRWIN LICHTEN TEIN. 

